Anyone shoot Minox here? Any stories of fun or results?

[Vickko]

Anyone shoot Minox here? Any stories of fun or results?

I picked one up on impulse; I'm told it works. It looks like the classical spy camera.

Don't know where to find film or processing yet.

...Vick

 

[mgilvey]

I have purchased the last two versions of the Minox DCC Leica M3 (and M3 Plus). 4 and 5mp cameras respectively. I started a thread on vox.com about my adventures with, primarily the "Plus" version. http://myfxjournal.vox.com I hope that qualifies me as a range finder user.

 

[rogue_designer]

I have a Minox C - 8x11 "spy" camera. It's a lot of fun to use. Not a lot of fun to process the film though.

I did run into Al Gore on the street once where that was the only camera I had on me. He laughed and shook my hand after I grabbed the shot.

 

[borrel]

The other day I found an old Minox 8x11 Agfapan 100 which I had completely forgotten about at the bottom of a box of old photo things. Judging from the results (http://abdallah.hiof.no/20070926-minox/) it must have been exposed about 20 years ago. The pictures are from a Minox C inherited from my father. Developing Minox 8x11 film is fairly easy even if you don't have a dedicated Minox developing tank. Cut the middle part of a smooth plastic soda bottle, slit it down one side and fit it into a 120 film size steel developing real. Make sure all the glue from the label is removed, then sand and polish the sharp edge of the vertical slit where you may have taken out a bit to make the cylinder fit inside the reel. Use your normal daylight loading bag or darkroom. Tape the Minox film end to the plastic cylinder at one "end" of the reel emulsion side out and wind it on in a helical fashion. Then fasten the other end with tape. Use masking tape. Filling the tank completely for that tiny strip of film is somewhat wasteful, so if your tank does not leak you might want to experiment with continuous agitation times by filling only enough developer to cover some of the film and continually rotate the tank while it's on its side.

Minox daylight developing tanks are often available on eBay and there is a dedicated standard plastic reel for Paterson daylight tanks available. There is a discussion of 8x11 tanks here: http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=000KCm and information on availability of film here: http://www.8x11film.com/ , here: http://www.frugalphotographer.com/ and here: http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=000K67

- Børre

 

[rovnguy]

I shoot a Minox B on occasion. It is an enjoyable camera to use and the results are surprisingly good. The real trick here is to use the measuring chain when you shoot up close. I only shoot the Mincolor ISO 100 and have never been disappointed. It is great as a backup camera when I'm out on the street or want to shoot something up close... 8" or so. You do have to understand the limitations of such a small format, but that's all part of the learning process. Attached are three samples.